Hanuo HN80-6A Microplate Shaker Incubator for Deep-Well Plates

Overview

The Hanuo HN80-6A Microplate Shaker Incubator is an integrated laboratory instrument engineered for precise temperature-controlled orbital shaking of microplates and deep-well plates in life science applications. It combines PID-based intelligent thermal regulation with high-stability DC brushless motor-driven oscillation to support reproducible incubation, enzymatic reactions, cell culture expansion, bacterial growth, and molecular assay preparation. Unlike basic shakers or standalone incubators, the HN80-6A implements a dual-function architecture—simultaneously maintaining uniform thermal conditions across all plate positions while delivering consistent orbital motion (3 mm diameter) at speeds ranging from 200 to 1600 rpm. Its operational envelope spans 0–100 °C, enabling both low-temperature storage simulation and high-temperature denaturation protocols. The unit features a fully enclosed chamber with a programmable heated lid, minimizing evaporative loss and edge-effect thermal gradients—critical for long-duration assays involving low-volume samples in deep-well formats.

Key Features

• PID-fuzzy logic temperature control ensures rapid thermal equilibration (<5 min to 60 °C from ambient) and stable setpoint maintenance (≤±0.5 °C deviation at 37 °C).
• Orbital shaking mechanism driven by a maintenance-free DC brushless motor—delivering low acoustic noise (<50 dB(A)), minimal electromagnetic interference, and extended service life.
• Independent multi-timer functionality: each of the six plate positions can be assigned a unique run duration and start delay, supporting staggered experimental workflows without manual intervention.
• Programmable heated lid with dual-mode operation (auto-adaptive or user-defined setpoint), reducing condensation and evaporation in uncovered or loosely sealed deep-well plates.
• Dual-layer safety architecture: hardware-based overtemperature cutoff (mechanical thermostat) paired with software-enforced thermal limits and real-time fault logging.
• Auto-recovery mode preserves active protocols during brief power interruptions; system resumes operation at the exact timepoint and parameter state prior to outage.
• Integrated fan-assisted cooling system activates automatically upon completion of heating cycles or when internal temperature exceeds safe thresholds, accelerating cooldown and protecting heat-sensitive reagents.
• Front-panel LCD interface displays real-time temperature, speed, elapsed time, remaining time, and error codes—enabling full operational transparency without external software dependency.
• Calibration-ready design: built-in temperature offset adjustment allows traceable field calibration against NIST-traceable reference probes per ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory requirements.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The HN80-6A accommodates standard ANSI/SLAS-compliant microplates—including 96-well, 384-well, and deep-well formats (e.g., 24-well, 48-well)—with rigid plate carriers ensuring positional stability under high-speed agitation. Its chamber geometry supports plates up to 22 mm in height, accommodating tubes, PCR strips, and custom labware with compatible footprints. All thermal and mechanical performance specifications meet relevant clauses of IEC 61010-1 (Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use) and comply with CE marking directives. While not FDA 510(k)-cleared, the instrument’s design principles align with GLP and GMP environmental control expectations for pre-analytical sample handling, particularly in QC labs performing ELISA, qPCR master mix preparation, or microbial suspension homogenization.

Software & Data Management

The HN80-6A operates as a stand-alone instrument with no proprietary PC software required. All parameters—including temperature, speed, timer, lid mode, and multi-point ramp profiles—are configured directly via the front panel. Internal non-volatile memory retains up to five user-defined protocols with full audit trail capability: date/time stamps, operator ID fields (via optional keypad login), and event logs (start/stop, error triggers, calibration actions). For laboratories operating under 21 CFR Part 11 requirements, the device supports integration into validated LIMS or ELN systems through RS-232 or optional USB-to-serial interface (firmware v2.3+), enabling remote parameter upload/download and electronic signature capture for protocol execution records.

Applications

• High-throughput cell culture maintenance: uniform suspension of adherent cells during passaging or transfection reagent mixing.
• Enzyme kinetics studies requiring simultaneous thermal control and gentle agitation to prevent sedimentation of immobilized enzymes or substrate aggregates.
• Antibody-antigen binding optimization in ELISA development, where controlled incubation time and temperature directly impact signal-to-noise ratios.
• Genomic DNA extraction workflows—enhancing lysis efficiency in deep-well plates containing tissue homogenates or bacterial pellets.
• Microbial growth curve analysis under defined thermal and aeration conditions using 24-well deep-well plates with gas-permeable seals.
• Pre-analytical sample homogenization for clinical chemistry panels, including serum/plasma dilution series and calibrator preparation.

FAQ

What plate formats are supported on the HN80-6A?
The instrument accepts standard ANSI/SLAS microplates (96-well, 384-well) and deep-well plates (24-well, 48-well), provided they conform to footprint dimensions ≤127.76 × 85.48 mm and height ≤22 mm.
Does the heated lid operate independently of chamber temperature?
Yes—the lid temperature can be set manually (range: 37–100 °C) or enabled in auto-mode, where it dynamically tracks and slightly exceeds chamber setpoint to suppress condensation.
Is external validation documentation available for IQ/OQ/PQ procedures?
Hanuo provides a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) report with initial calibration certificates; users may perform Installation Qualification (IQ) and Operational Qualification (OQ) using the onboard calibration offset function and third-party traceable thermistors.
Can the unit maintain 4 °C for cold-sensitive assays?
No—the minimum operating temperature is 0 °C, but sustained sub-ambient operation requires external refrigerated enclosures; the HN80-6A is not a refrigerated incubator.
How is temperature uniformity verified across all six plate positions?
Per ISO 21748 guidance, uniformity is measured using nine-point mapping (center + eight perimeter locations) within a loaded chamber at 37 °C and 1200 rpm; typical deviation is ≤±0.5 °C across all positions.